Do cats get jealous? Some experts think they do, while others aren’t so sure. It’s hard to know for sure because cats can’t tell us how they feel. But, what we do know is that cats can have strong negative reactions to changes in their environment, such as a new cat in the house or the introduction of unfamiliar people (adults and babies). This means we need to help out cat deal with these feelings, whether we call it jealousy or something else.
When your cat shows aggressive or jealous behaviours, it’s important to take them to your local vet for a check-up. Even if it seems like a clear case of jealousy, it’s easy to misinterpret or project our feelings onto our cat. This behaviour change could be the result of an underlying medical issue, such as FLUTD, anxiety or stress, or another illness causing them pain.
Signs of a jealous cat
Jealousy in cats often manifests as aggression and territorial behaviours in cats, but stress also plays a big part too. If your cat is feeling jealous or stressed, you may notice the following behaviours:
- Aggression: hissing, biting, growling, fighting and scratching which may not be directed at the person or animal they’re jealous of.
- Anxiety and stress: hiding, over-grooming, changes in eating habits, disturbed sleep or failing to use the litter box.
- Destructive behaviours: scratching or damaging furniture and curtains, knocking over and breaking or even chewing household items.
- Clinginess and attention seeking: meowing excessively or clinging to your side, and seeking more attention than usual.
- Resource guarding: your cat may attempt to protect valuable resources in the house, such as water and food bowls, and litter trays.
It’s important to note that these behaviours are not exclusive to jealousy and stress. If your cat is acting differently than normal, make sure you get them checked by your veterinarian.
Why do cats get jealous?
Jealous behaviours usually occur following changes in your household. You may have a new addition to the family (a new cat or dog, adult, or baby), or perhaps a new job has reduced the amount of time you are available to spend with them. Jealousy in cats tends to be related to resource guarding – whether that resource is food, litter trays, a favourite toy, or affection and attention from you.
The arrival of new kittens, puppies, or people in the house can make your cat feel insecure and unsure about their place in the family. They may perceive the newcomer as an intruder who has invaded their territory. This is especially true if you have just introduced a new kitten or puppy, as they typically assert themselves within the household, use your existing cat’s possessions, and even eat their food.
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How to help prevent jealousy in cats
There are several steps you can take to help your jealous cat. Essentially, you need to manage their stress and help them both adapt and feel secure about their place in your family.
- Consult your vet for stress management: Talk to your vet about potential supplements that can help manage your cat’s stress as you help them to adjust. There are lots of affordable, medically-approved treatment options available on the market, like Zylkene, which will keep your cat feeling calm and happy through the transition period. A plug-in Feliway diffuser can also help create a calm home environment and help your cat feel safe and secure.
- Identify the triggers: Take note of what is going on when you notice jealousy or aggression to help you better understand the underlying causes of your cat’s behaviour.
- Provide personal space: Allocate a designated area or room for your cat with essentials such as a water bowl, food bowl, bed, and litter tray. Let your cat retreat to this space whenever they want to.
- Equal attention for all pets: Make sure that you spend equal time with all your pets. If time is more limited than it was before, focus on quality rather than quantity. Play one-on-one interactive games and activities to strengthen the bond you have with your cat.
- Introduce new pets gradually: Introduce new pets to your cat slowly and in a controlled manner to minimise stress and potential conflicts. Proper introductions can make all the difference in the long term.
- Separate feeding areas: Feed your cat separately at meal times so they don’t feel as though they need to guard their food. This will also prevent resource-based aggression.
- Positive reinforcement: Reward positive behaviours and interactions – and don’t punish negative ones. Cats respond better to positive reinforcement so focus on encouraging good behaviour rather than punishing negative actions, which can cause further stress and jealousy.
- Seek professional help: Consult with an animal behaviourist who can assess your cat’s jealous behaviour and provide a tailored plan to address the issue.
Understanding your cat’s jealousy towards a new kitten
While kittens may seem adorable and playful to us, they can disrupt the established routine of your existing cat, leading to feelings of jealousy and unease. Think about it for a moment. Your cat is settled in their routine with their own territory, relationships and habits – they have their own food and water bowls, litter tray, and sleeping area and they enjoy a well-established relationship with the other humans and pets in the house. All of a sudden, this is disturbed by the arrival of a boisterous new addition – an annoying, untrained kitten with no kitty manners.
Although we know a new kitten will eventually integrate with the household, your cat doesn’t know this yet. From their perspective…. their whole routine is messed up. The new kitten is probably eating their food, sleeping in their favourite sunny spot and using their litter tray too. Then there’s all the attention and affection they are receiving from you – they are so tiny and cute, you just can’t help it. It’s now easier to understand how an adult cat might start to feel jealous, frustrated, confused, or even stressed about the situation.
The best way to transition a new kitten into the house is to make sure that both cats have separate areas to retreat to. Give them equal attention, and try to engage in play with both of them at the same time. Some delicious tuna and catnip treats to smooth over any hard feelings won’t hurt, either.
